SEA GRANT COLLEGES 9 



Senator Pell. First, I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to 

 Senator Lister Hill, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and 

 Public Welfare, who constituted this subcommittee. 



Judging from the plethora of recent bills introduced in both the 

 Senate and House, volumes of testimony, speeches, articles, and books 

 on oceanology, it is clear that Americans are beginning to think about 

 its practical possibilities. Their interest touches all aspects — defense, 

 industry, science, and recreation. It should be true, as Victor Hugo 

 once remarked, that there is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time 

 has come. But the idea of oceanology still needs a push. For there 

 are many ocean-related ventures in which this Nation is performing 

 poorly. 



Our merchant marine competes badly with other commercial fleets 

 of the world. Our fishing industry has slipped from second to fifth 

 place in a decade. Last year, fisheries products' imports equaled more 

 than one-third of our deficit balance of payments. 



If these sagging industries don't catch up, what chance will Amer- 

 ica have in marine industries of the future, such as : mining of marine 

 minerals, drilling for oil, extracting dissolved substances, aquaculture, 

 desalinization, underwater equipment, vehicles and bases of all kinds? 

 We are not adequately preparing the technology for these new or 

 potential industries. Costly gaps can appear overnight. The lesson 

 of sputnik is a painful reminder of weak long-range planning. 



So I hope we begin today with a consensus that action is needed to 

 strengthen the marine sciences and industries. To do this will require 

 many more people skilled in various disciplines of oceanology. The 

 sea grant college program will train them in the higher educational 

 system. 



I believe this move is important if wc are to fashion a new "maritime 

 tradition." We must create an ocean-mindedness, just as we have 

 built a "space-mindedness" among our citizens, particularly the young. 

 In short, we must stimulate students to study in this vital, many- 

 faceted field. 



The sea grant college concept parallels the land grant college idea 

 in its intent to guide education toward practical application of knowl- 

 edge. We should launch this now in the marine environment as we 

 did last century in agriculture. 



At present, some 50 colleges from 21 States and the District of 

 Columbia offer courses in the marine sciences. Four of the States are 

 inland, all bordering on the Great Lakes. Mo9t of these institutions 

 offer degrees in the marine sciences. A good base already exists for 

 the sea grant college program. But there are notable lacks. 



Only a half dozen colleges now run identifiable courses in ocean engi- 

 neering or in fisheries training. These are the two areas which might 

 receive immediate attention under a sea grant college program. This 

 is not just one more addition to the existing array of oceanologic and 

 marine programs. It can pull together a number of these and give 

 them a sharper focus. 



The program need not be limited to degree-granting institutions. It 

 should include the invaluable resources of staffs, ships, shore labora- 

 tories of such excellent private institutions as the Woods Hole Oceano- 

 graphic Institution, also the in-house laboratories of Federal agencies. 

 All of these can contribute to education and training in the marine 

 sciences and the fields of their applicatioiL 



